Armistice Ball Raises $6600 For Legacy

SBCO members Monica Haak and Jo Kennedy, Jane Kennedy and Briony Hoare presented the Armistice Centenary concert cheque to David Charles from Legacy, watched by Barry Dobbs, from the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch

December 19, 2018

Legacy received a special donation from the South Burnett Community Orchestra (SBCO) last Friday that will help local Legatees over the festive season.

Members of the SBCO presented David Charles, from Fraser Coast-Burnett Legacy, with a cheque for $6676.

The funds were the proceeds of the SBCO’s Armistice Centenary Charity Dinner Concert held at Kingaroy Town Hall on November 10.

The ball attracted more than 265 ticket holders who filled the town hall for the concert and a three-course dinner.

They were also treated to a concert by the full South Burnett Community Orchestra, as well as performances from the SBCO String Ensemble and the new SBCO choir.

In September, the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch contributed $3000 to help the SBCO stage this memorable night, and were very pleased to see the dinner’s proceeds go to a cause close to the hearts of many RSL members.

David said Legacy was established in Melbourne in 1923 to look after the widows and widowers of servicemen and women, along with their children (who are supported up to the age of 26).

David became a Legatee himself at a young age when his father was accidentally electrocuted, and said if it hadn’t been for Legacy he probably would have finished his education in primary school.

Legacy’s help enabled him to complete his education and go on to pursue a career.

So when he retired, he joined Legacy to help repay the assistance the organisation had given him and his family.

He now works for the Fraser Coast-Burnett branch, which was established in 1947 and looks after more than 600 families from Monto to Nanango and coastal areas to the east, including about 30 widows in Kingaroy.

David said these days most of Legacy’s senior volunteers were from the Vietnam era.

The rise of the grey nomad lifestyle and grandchildren had impacted recruitment, so six years ago Legacy decided broaden its membership base from ex-servicemen and women to allow civilians to come on board as well.

Legacy workers performed a variety of tasks, ranging from organising bus trips to home visits.

One of the key aims of Legacy was to help clients stay in their own homes wherever possible, and another was to stay in touch and let them know they had not been forgotten or overlooked.

David thanked the SBCO and the Sub-Branch for their generous contribution, and urged anyone who might want to join Legacy to contact Don Davey on (07) 4162-1755.